Seal for floating tank roofs



Nov. 6, 1934. J, H. wlGGlNs SEAL FOR FLOATING TANK ROOFS Filed March l5, 1930 2 '.Shzse'cs-Shee*v ,Q7-TORNA? Ks.

Nov. 6, 1934. J H. WGGWS 1,97%57 SEAL FOR FLOATING TANK ROOFS Filed March l5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A/VENT-oe;

atented Nov.. 6g, i934 mire 24 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid storage tanks of the kind that are provided with a roof or top which floats upon the liquid in the tank, and particularly oating tank roofs of the type in which the means used to seal the space between the peripheral edge of the roof and the side wall of the tank comprises segmental shoe members arranged vertically in parallel or substantially parallel relation with the side wall of'the tank and supported from the roof in such a way that they are capable of moving radially with respect to the roof, and a flexible or pliable medium, usually gas-tight fabric, that is combined with the shoe members and with the upwardly-projecting rim at the peripheral edge of the roof in such a Way as to produce what is commonly referred to as a seal.

One object of my present invention is to provide a floating roof seal whose component parts are of such construction and arrangement that the seal can be installed or removed in much less time than seals of conventional design,

and the various operations required in the assembling, disassembling, mounting or dismounting of the parts of the seal, can be performed by workmen located on the top side of the roof.

Another object is to provide a seal of the kind mentioned, which is of such design that it is practicable to make the parts of same of lighter gage metal than is used in conventional floating roof seals, thereby reducing the weight and cost of the seal.

Another object is to provide a seal whose segmental shoe members are constructed from relatively thin metal plates that will flex readily and conform to `the approximate curvature of the side wall ofy the tank and to the vertical seams in same, even though only a relatively slight outward force or pressure is'exerted on the shoe members.

Another object is to provide a seal for a oating tank roof whose parts can be assembled without the necessity of forming numerous matched or aligned holes in the metallic parts and fabric parts of the structure, as is necessary with floating tank roof seals of conventional design.

Another object is to provide a seal which is of such construction that a coating of paint or other protecting material on the shoe members will not be liable to be rubbed oli` by relative movement between the shoe members and side wall of the tank.

And still another object is to provide a seal for floating tank roofs, whichis of vsuch design that it is practicable to make the shoe members ap;

(Cl. B20-26) proximately twice as long as the shoe members used in seals of conventional design, thus reducing the number of vertically-disposed pieces of fabric attached to the adjacent ends of the shoe members. of my invention Will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical sectional view of my improved seal for floating tank roofs, taken longitudinally through onev of the carriers and illustrating the means that is employed to sustain said carrier, the means used to combine said carrier with the shoe member with which it Aco-operates, and the means used to attach the horizontally-disposed fabric to the shoe member and to the rim of the roof.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of one of the shoe members, illustrating how theguides are attached to same.

Figure 3 is a detail view, illustrating the clips or devices that are attached to the carriers at the points where the hangers arelpivoted to the carriers, so as to clamp the upper edge portion of the shoe member against the`carrier.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, illustrating the construction of the means that is used to join the vertically-disposed pieces of fabric to the adjacent ends of the shoe members.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view ofthe parts shown in Figure 4, looking outwardly towards the side wall of the tank.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the seal, looking outwardly from the center of the roof, showing the rim at the peripheral edge of the roof and the co-acting parts or members of the seal located beyond or outside rof said rims; and

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views, illustrating other ways of securing the fabric member F.

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the side wall of a liquid storage tank, B designates a oating roof or top that rests upon and is sustained by the liquid :c in the tank, as shown in Figure 1, C designates a vertically-disposed rim at the peripheral edge of the roof that is spaced some distance inwardly from the side wall of the tank, and D designates swinging hangers on said rim pivotally connected at 1 to the rim and provided with arms that project upwardly or radially over the top edge of the rim so as to serve as sup- 105 ports for a structure of the kind commonly referred to as a seal, which closes the space between the rim C and the side wall A of the tank.

Said seal comprises aL number of segmental .Shoe members E that are disposed vertically in Other objects and desirable features 60 parallel or substantially parallel relation with the side wall of the tank, a substantially horizontally-disposed, annular, flexible member F, usually constructed of gas-tight fabric, attached at its outer edge to the shoe members E and attached at its inner edge to the rim C of the roof, and a plurality of vertically-disposed flexible or pliable members G, usually constructed of gastight fabric, attached to the adjacent ends of the shoe members E and to the fabricF. Instead of constructing the shoe members E from fairly heavy metal plates and mounting said shoe members directly on the hangers D, as has heretofore been the usual practice in seals of this general type, I form the shoe members nom` relatively thin metal plates that are attached tovcarriers H, which, in turn, are mounted on or suspended from the hangers D, preferably by pivotalconnections. The carriers H are herein illustrated as consisting of vertically-disposed members formed from at strips of metal, usually about 3 inches in width, having their upper and lower end portions fiared or bent' inwardly away from the side wall of the tank, and each of said carriers is provided adjacent its upper end with a pair of inwardly-projecting lugs 1' that receive a ybolt orA pintle pin 2 which passes through a holein the outwardly-projecting portion of one of the hangers D. The shoe members E are preferably made approximately twice as long as has heretofore been the practice, and each shoe member vis' mounted on two carriers H, which, in turn, are suspended from two hangers D. Each carrier has a straight portion between its pivot and its ared upper end, so that the outward pressure exerted on the carrier by its hanger will throw the lower end of the carrier outwardly towards the side wall of the tank.

The carriers Hare arranged on the outside of theshoe members so as to prevent the end portions of the shoe members from bearing upon or contacting directly with the inner face of the side wall of the tank, and the outer surface of the intermediate portion of each shoe member, lying between the pair of carriers on which the shoe member is mounted, is protected by a plurality of vertically-disposed guides I formed' from strips of relatively light gage metal, usually metal of about 11g of an inch in thickness, the guides I being shorter than the carriers H, and having their end Iportions ared or bent inwardly away from the side wall of the tank so that they will co-operate with'the carriers H to guide the shoe members over the side wall and prevent said shoe members fromv catching on rivet heads or other projections on the inner face of the side wall of the tank.

It is immaterial, so vfar as my broad idea is concerned, what means is employed to attach the shoe members to the carriers and attach the guides I to the shoe members. In the seal herein illustrated the. carriers VH are provided adjacent their lower ends with fingers or brackets 3 that project inwardly from the inner faces o'f the carriers and serve as supports for the shoe members E, said fingersl or brackets being formed either by separate devices that are attached to the carriers, or formed by slitting and bending the carriers in such a way as to form integral portions on the inner sides of same that act' assupports for the shoe members. Each shoe member is provided in its bottom .edge with notches 4 for receiving the portions or devices 3 on the carriers that support or sustain the shoe member.

' 'I'he upper edge portion of each shoe member E lis clamped against the inner sides of the two'carriers H on which the shoe member is mounted by means of clips or clamping devices J vof the kind shown in Figures 1 and 3 that are attached to the carriers by the bolts 2, previously mentioned, which pivotally connect the carriers to the hangers D, the devices J being of bar-like form. and arranged so that their upper ends will bear against the inner sides of the carriers and their lower ends will lap over the top edge portion of the shoe member and exert pressure on the shoe member in a direction to hold it against the carriers and prevent it from moving inwardly relatively to the carriers. The guides I are combined with the shoe members in such a way that they are in effect simply hung upon the outer sides of the shoe members. Preferably each guide I is provided adjacent its upper end with an inwardly-projecting device 5 shaped so that it can be hooked over the top edge of the shoe member and then bent down or deformed so as to hold the guide in position.` The device 5 mayconsist either of a separate part that is attached to the guide-or it may consist of an integral portion of the guide produced by slitting and bend-V ing the guide so as to form a portion at the inner side of the guide that can be hooked over the top edge of the shoe member. At the lower end of each guide I is an inwardly-projecting device 6 that is arranged in a slot '1 in the bottom edge of the shoe member, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, the device 6 being formed either by slitting and bending the guide, or formed by a sep-v arate part that is'attached to the inner side of the guide. If desired, the bottom edge portions of the shoe members may be provided with slits 7 so as to impart greater flexibility to said portions.

4Instead of using rivets to attach the fabric `members F and G to the parts of the structure with which they coact, I have devised a novel attaching or .securing means for said fabric parts that overcomes the i necessity of lining up matched holes in the fabric parts and metallic parts., and which, in addition to greatly simplifying the assembling and disassembling of the parts of the seal, produces a seal which is not liable to become leaky, due to holes in the fabric parts of the seal. Briefly stated, this feature of my invention consists in using clamps, instead of rivets, bolts or similar fastening devices to attach some or all of the fabric portions of the structure to the elements with which they coact. In the particular formof my invention shown in Figure 1,' the fabric member F which joins the shoe members to the rim C on the roof, has its outer edge portion folded so as to embrace the top edges of the shoe members E. After the folded portion of the fabric has vbeen applied to the shoe members, it is held in position by clamps, herein illustrated as consisting of substantially U-shaped clips 8 that are qdriven downwardly over the folded portion of the fabric,

fafter which the' side legs of said clips are pressed inwardly or towards each other so asito firmly clamp the fabric F to the top edge portions of v the shoe members. The inner edge of the fabric member F is attachedl by similar clips 9 to an upwardly-projecting ange 10 that extends continuously around the rim C of the roof. While Iprefer to fold or' shape the fabric F in such a way that the edge portions of same will embrace the parts. to which the fabric is attached; it is not absolutely necessary that this bev done. If desired, the edge portion of the fabric can be left dat or unfolded, as shown in Figure 7, and

instead of using separate clips or clamps to secure the fabric, it can be secured by an integral bent portion 8a on the part to which the fabric is attached, as shown in Figure 8. The means used to join the vertically-disposed fabric members G to the adjacent ends of the shoe members E, also consists of or comprises clamps, and it has the added advantage of enabling the fabric members G to be installed or removed by workmen located on the top side of the roof. While I 4have herein illustrated it as being used for aty taining devices M that are adapted to be driven into position from the' top side of the roof, so as to bind or clamp the metallic parts K on the fabric member G to the .co-acting parts L on the shoe members. As shown in Figure 4, the adjacent ends of the shoe members E-are provided with substantially vertically-disposed troughshaped portions L, and the fabric member G has attached to its vertical edges metallic devices K that are of substantially angle shape and so proportioned that they can be slid downwardly into the trough-shaped portions L on the shoe members by a workman standing on the top side of the roof. Non-hardening putty or a similar sealing substance is then forced downwardly into the trough-shaped portions L on the shoe members, after which rods M are driven downwardly into said trough-shaped portions so as-to securely bind to same the flanged devices K on the fabric member G, thereby producing gas-tight joints between the trough-shaped members L on the adjacent ends of the shoe members and the flanged devices on the fabric member G that closes the gap between the ends of two adjacent shoe members. -If it becomes necessary to remove the vertically-disposed fabric members G, this can be accomplished quickly and easily simply by withdrawing the retaining rods M or moving them upwardly out of engagement with the parts K and L which they clamp together. The vertically-disposed fabric members G are aitached at their upper ends in a gas-tight mannerto the annular-shaped flexible member F, as,

for example, by sewing said partstogether with fine wire and lling the joint between said parts f with flexible putty. The co-acting parts K and L on the vertically-disposed pieces of fabric G and on the shoe members E,-respectively, may be .of various shapes'or forms, and various means may, be used to combine said parts or clamp them together. I prefer, however, to use retaining or clamping devices M that can be installed or removed from the top side of the roof, and I also prefer to permanently attach the parts K to the' fabric pieces G, so that said fabric pieces are 'ready to be installed, simply by sliding the parts K on same into engagement with co-acting parts. L on the shoe members andthen installing the devices M. As shown in Figure 5, the devices M are provided at their upper ends with laterallyprojecting arms 1l that can be grasped in the operation of withdrawing the devices M when it becomes necessary to renew the fabric or disassemble the structure.

A floating roof seal of the construction above described weighs considerably less than lthe seals of this general design which are now in extensive commercial use; it comprises about one-half as many shoe members'and fabric parts G for joining the ends of the shoe members together; it can be installed orA removed quickly and easily by workmen located on the top side of the roof; it has segmental shoe members that are flexible enough to follow the curvature of the side wall of the tank and conform approximately to the vertical joints in said side wall; it has shoe members that will be maintained in close relationship with the side wall of the tank without contacting with or rubbing on the side wall, thereby permitting the shoe members to be painted or coated with a protecting substance that is not liable to be rubbed off; and it permits the use of spring assemblies, each of which comprises a single spring O for forcing the shoe members outwardly towards the side wall of the tank and maintaining said shoe members in parallel relationship with said side wall. In assembling the structure it is preferable to first install one hanger and carrier on the rim C, then position one of the shoe members E on the inner side of the carrier so that the notch 4 in the bottom edge of the shoe member will receive the-inwardlypro jecting supporting devices 3 on the carrier, then install the other hanger and carrier and position the shoe member on the supporting device 3 of said second carrier, then attach a vertically-disposedfabric member G to one end of the,shoe member by means of the rod M provided for this purpose, which rod is driven downwardly intol -the outer side of the shoe member and secure said guides in position by bending or deforming the inwardly-projecting portions 5 of same, and thereafter secure the inner edge portion of the fabric member F to the rim C on the roof by a suitable clamping means, such; for example, as the retaining devices 9. The remaining pairs of carriers and shoe members are installed in a similer-manner.

It is, vof course, not essential that the co-acting parts of the sealfbe assembled or combined in the specific manner just described, but one very desirable feature of a roof seal of the construction herein illustrated is that the parts of same can be installed progressively, around the rim plates that are not capable of flexing circumferroo entially. As previously stated, the means used to attach or secure the shoe 'members to the fabric members that close the gaps between the ends of the shoe members, is capable of use at other points or places in the` structure, and moreover, is applicable to floating tank roof seals in which the shoe members are of different con.- struction and are mounted in a different way than the shoe members herein illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-v ent is:

1. A seal for floating tank roofs, comprising a radially-movable supporting structure carried by the roof, shoe carriers sustained by said supporting structure, means for maintaining said carriers in approximately parallel relation with the side wall of the tank,.shoe members sus tained by said carriers and constructed from relatively limber metalplates, said shoe members being arranged in substantially parallel relation to the side wall of .the tank, and guides on said shoe members that co-act with the carriers to properly guide the shoe members over the side wall of the tank and prevent them from rubbing on said wall.

.2. In a seal for oating tank roofs, the combination of carriers disposed in opposed relation with the side wall of the tank, verticallydis vposed shoe members mounted'on said carriers,

supports onsaid carriers that sustain the weight of said shoe members, and means for clamping the shoe members to the carriers.

bination of carriers disposed in opposed relation with the sidewall of the tank, vertically-disposed shoe members sustained by said carriers and arranged `between'the carriers and the side-Wall of the tank, supports on said carriers that sustain the weight of said shoe members, means for clamping the shoe members to the carriers, and

upright guides on the outer surfaces of the shoe members arranged intermediate the carriers.

4. In a seal for floating tank roofs, the combination of carriers disposed in opposed relation to the side wall of the tank, a vertically-,disposed shoe member arranged on the inner side of' said carriers and sustained by same, said shoe member being adapted to co-act with said side wall, devices on said `carriers that co-act with the bottom edge portion of the -shoe member to sustain the weight of same and prevent said member from shifting laterally relativelyv to the carriers, and clamps that co-act with th'e top edge portion of the shoe member to detachably hold said shoe member in operativeV position v7on the carriers.

5. In a seal for floating tank roofs, the com- 1 shoe member in operative position on said carriers. A

6. In a seal for floating tank roofs, the com- I bination of a shoe member provided at one'end with a. supbs'tantially trough-shapedA part, a fabric element provided with a metallic part that isadapted to be slid longitudinally into the trough-shaped part f said shoe member, and a removable retaining device that is adapted to be inserted longitudinally into said trough-shaped partto bind or clamp the metallic part'on said f adapted to bear upon the inner face of the side 3. In a seal Vfor floating tank-roofs, the comthe roof, carriers on said structure arranged in v opposed relation to the side wall of the tank, re-

movable, segmental metallic shoe members on said carriers that are relatively limber and capable of flexing intermediate their ends as and for the purpose described, and vertically disposed guides arranged in spaced relation on the outer side of said shoe members for preventing said shoe members from catching on projections on the inner face of the side wall of the tank when the roof moves vertically relatively to said side wall.

8. A seal for floating tank roofs, comprising radially-movable hangers carried by the roof, vertically-disposed carriers suspended from said hangers and arranged so as to bear upon the side wall of the tank, and removable segmental shoe members sustained by said carriers and mounted so as to be capable of being installed or removed by moving said shoe members vertically relatively to the carriers While the carriers are in operative position on the hangers.

9. A seal for floating tank roofs, comprising a radially-movable supporting structure provided with substantially bar-like carriers thatare wall of the tank, and limber metallic shoe members of substantially segmental shape, removably mounted on said carriers and disposed so that the carriers lie between the end portions of said shoe members and the tank side wall.

10. In a seal for floating tank roofs, a vertically-disposed, segmental shoe member disposed in parallel relation to the side wall f the tank, vertically-disposed guides removably ounted on the outer side of said s/hoe member and provided with portions that hook over the top edge of said member, and co-acting means on said guides and shoe member for detachably connecting said parts together.

11. In a liquid storage tank, the combination A of a oating roof, an annular shoe arranged in substantially parallel relation to the side wall of the tank and adapted to bear on the inner side of same, said annular shoe having sufficient flexibility to adapt it to the curvature of said side wall and the vertical seams in same, a radiallymovable structure on the roof provided with substantially vertically-disposed carriers that sustain said annular shoe, said carriers being arranged inspaced relationship between said shoe and the inner face of the tank side wall,'and sub'- stantially vertically-disposedl guides attached to the outer side of said shoe at points between said carriers so as to prevent the shoe from catching o"n projections on the -tank side wall.

'12. In a seal for floating tank roofs, the combination lof a shoe member provided at one end' with a substantially trough-shaped part, a flexible connecting element provided with a metallic part that is adapted to be slid longitudinally l., into the trough-shaped part of said shoe, and a removable retaining device that is adapted to be inserted longitudinally into said trough-shaped' part tobind or clamp the metallic part on said connecting element to said trough-shaped part.

13. In a seal for floatingv tank roofsthe combination of a fabric member, a co-acting element provided with a substantially hook-shaped means that is adapted to embrace one edge portion of said fabric member, and a removable retaining soA aevie that 'is adapted to be inserted longitude' nally through said hook-shaped means to clamp bination of a member provided with a substantially trough-shaped part, la fabric member'provided with a metallic part that is adapted lto be positioned in said trough-shaped part, and `a. removablegretaining device that is adapted to be inserted endwise into saidtrough-shaped part to bind or clamp the metallic part on said fabric member to said trough-shaped part. 15. In a seal for oating tank roofs, the combination of substantially vertically-disposed shoe members arranged in opposed relation to the side wall of the tank, substantially vertically-disposed fabric elements for closing the gaps between said shoe members, said shoe members and fabric elements having co-acting portions arranged in telescopic relation and adapted to be engaged or disengaged by relative endwise movement in a dlreci-.ionY substantially parallel to the side wall' of necting elements disposed approximately parallel the tank, and retaining devices for detachably connecting said fabric elements to the shoe members, mounted so as to becapable of being moved endwise into and out of engagement with the coacting portions of said parts, when said shoe members are in approximately correct position.

1e. In a seal for floating tank roofs, the combination of spaced shoe members arranged inl opposed relation tothe side wall of the tank, conto the side wall of the tank for closing the gaps between said shoe members, end partsfon said elements arranged so. as to be .engaged with co-acting end parts on said shoe members from the top side of the roof by moving said connecting elements downwardly so as to cause the end parts on same to telescopically engage the co-acting end parts on said shoe members, and' removable retaining devicesY arranged so as to be installed or removed from the top side of the roof by moving them endwise into engagement with said coparts, for detachably joining said connecting elements to said shoe members. 1'?. Ina seal for floating tank roof the combination of a radially-movable supporting struc# ture carried by the roof, shoe carriers on said structure arranged in opposed relation to the side wall of the tank, removable shoe members on said carriers, mounted so as to be capable of being moved vertically into and out of engagement with said carriers while said carriers are mounted. on said supporting structure, and bonnecting elements for closing the gaps between the shoe members, arranged substantially vertically in opposed relation tothe tank side wall, said connecting elements being constructed so as to be capable vof being moved lendwise into -or Aout of telescopic engagement with said shoe members.

18. In a seal for -floating tank roofs, the combination of radially-movable hangers carried by the roof, carriers on said Vhangers disposed' in opposed relation to the'side wall of the tank, removable shoe members on said carriers .mounted so as to be capable of being applied to or removed from 'said carriers from the top side o! the roof by moving said shoe members vertically relatively to said carriers when said carriers are in operative position. on said hangers, exible connecting .elementsbetween the shoe members'- disposed in opposed relation tothe. tank side wall,

and-retaining devices for detachablysaid ywhich receives the edge portion of said fabric in substantially operative position.

connecting elements to said shoe members mounted so as to be capable of being installed or removed from the top side of the roof when the shoe members and carriers are in assembled relationship. 1

19. In a seal for oating tank roofs, the combination of two shoe members arranged in op posed relation to the side wall of the tank and disposed substantially vertically, a removable vertically-disposed connecting element for closing the gap between said shoe members, provided with end parts that are arranged parallel to and in telescopic engagement with the end por= tions of said shoe members, and retaining de vices for clamping said connecting elementI to said shoe members, mounted so as to be capable of being moved endwise into or. out of engage' ment with said parts and said portions. 20. In a seal for oating tank roofs, the combination of a fabric member, a co-acting element having a means that is adapted to receive one edge portion of said fabric member, and a removable bar-like device that is adapted to be inserted endwise into-said means to bind or clamp said fabric member to the means Vofsaid element member. i

21. A seal for iloating tank roofs, provided with a relatively limber metallic shoe disposed verti cally with themajor portion of its surface arranged in sliding engagement with the side wall of the tank, removableguides disposed on. the outer side of said shoe extending vertically over the entire height ordepth of the shoe and arranged in contact with the 'tank side wall, and 110 bendable means for detachably interlocking said guides with said shoe.

22. In a liquid storage tank, the Vcombination of a floating roof, a supporting structure at the peripheral edge of said roof, vertically-disposed 116 carriersA sustained by said supporting structure and arranged substantially parallel to and inopposed relation to the side wall ofthe tank, a substantially annular shoe supported by 'said carriersand formed by a plurality of independ- 1m ently removable, segmental shoe members, supports on the carriers on which the shoe members rest, and means for detachably interlocking'said shoe members with said carriers, arranged so as to permit said shoe members toabe installed or removed by moving said shoe members vertically relatively .to the carriers while said carriers arel 23.In a liquid storage .tankthe combination of a oating roof, vertically-disposed, segmental shoe members arranged in sliding engagement with the side wall of the tank, a fabric member for closing. the space between the roof and said shoe members, and -means for producing tight joints between the fabric member, the roof and the shoe members, comprising clamps that embrace or surround imperforate edge portions of said fabric member and hold said'fabric member in positionv by frictional pressure.

24,I In a seal for oating tank roofs, the combinationv of a iioating roof, shoe members that act onthe tank side wall, a' fabric member attached by tight joints to said roof and shoe member and provided ,with 'an imperforate edge portion that engages'zo'ne of the elements to which it is 145 attached, andl clamps that embrace said imper-,

iorate edge portion and'clamp the same tightly 

